EDF Energy Cup - : EDF National Trophy Round 2 Previews

Who will win the EDF Energy National Trophy this season

EDF National Trophy Round 2 Previews

15 November 2007, 9:31 am

By Jonathan McConnell

It's the second round of the EDF National Trophy this weekend, with 30 sides looking to advance their chances of emulating the Cornish Pirates in last season's competition

ROUND 2 NORTH
Hull Ionians v Altrincham (Kersal)
This all North One tie in the EDF Energy National Trophy brings together 8th placed Hull Ionians and 11th placed Altrincham, the two teams already having met once this season in the league at Hull on 8 September with the home side victorious 16-10.
The Ionians beat Bradford & Bingley 16-3 at home in the first round, whilst Altrincham disposed of Hinckley 17-7.
The two sides have met once before in national cup competitions: in the 3rd round of the Intermediate Cup in November 2005 when Altrincham again visited Hull and lost 3-60.

Kendal v Huddersfield
Another all North One tie between the top two clubs in that league, Kendal have made the perfect start to the season with nine wins out of nine and just have the edge in the table over their rivals.
Kendal beat Rugby Lions 24-7 in the last round, whilst Huddersfield accounted for Shelford 20-17.
The two sides met three times last season with Kendal winning on each occasion: 37-20 at home in the 2nd round of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup in November, 23-13 at Huddersfield in September 2006 and 14-7 at Kendal on 3 March.

Leigh v Preston Grasshoppers
Leigh are one of just two level six sides left in the North half of the draw. Leigh lie in 6th place in North 2 West and have knocked out teams from higher leagues on three previous occasions: Liverpool St Helens in 2004 and 2005, and Fleetwood in 2005. Leigh beat New Brighton 26-12 to reach the 2nd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.
Preston Grasshoppers are in 3rd place in National 3 North, and accounted for a North 2 West rival of Leigh, Malvern, 63-17 in the first round.
The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

Macclesfield v Beverley
Macclesfield and Beverley are rivals in National 3 North and have already locked horns in the league this season on 20 October when Beverley were the visitors and won 40-27. That clash is the only previous time that these two sides have met in league or cup play. Macclesfield beat Harrogate 17-0 in the last round, whilst Beverley were handed a walk-over by Kenilworth.
The two sides currently occupy 14th and 13th spot respectively in the league.

Morley v Caldy
Morley, who won the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham in 2004/05, take on National 3 North rivals Caldy, with the two sides in 12th and 10th places respectively in the table.
Morley knocked out Matlock 43-17 in the first round of the EDF Energy National Trophy and have not lost at home in a national cup competition since Cleckheaton were the visitors in the 1st round of the Intermediate Cup in 2003/04.
Caldy beat Leicester Lions 42-19 to reach the 2nd round.
The two sides are yet to meet this season in the league but have clashed twice before in North One in season 2005/06, when Morley won 46-3 at home, and the two sides drew the return fixture 24-all at Caldy.

Morpeth v Hull
Level six side Morpeth are in 5th place in the North 2 East league, whilst Hull occupy 8th spot in North One, so a non National League club is guaranteed to reach round 3 of the EDF Energy National Trophy.
Morpeth beat Liverpool St Helens 29-14 in the last round, whilst Hull knocked out Longton 22-10.
The two sides have met on five previous occasions in league and cup with Hull winning each time, including a 40-17 victory when they visited Morpeth in the qualifying round of the senior cup in August 2004.

Tynedale v Darlington Mowden Park
Tynedale are riding high at the top of the National 3 North table, whilst rivals Darlington Mowden Park are 5 places behind them in the standings. Tynedale took the spoils when the two faced off in the league at Tynedale on 22 September.
Tynedale beat Broadstreet 46-13 in the last round and Darlington Mowden Park easily accounted for Scunthorpe 74-7.
Mowden Park have won on Tynedale soil on three occasions over the years in National 3 North, but the two sides’ only previous meeting in the cup was at Darlington in September 1988 in the qualifying round of the senior cup, with Tynedale running out 12-8 winners.

Westoe v Fylde
Westoe lie in 4th place in North One but they will need to overturn a team from a higher league for a second successive round if they are to progress to the next stage of the EDF Energy National Trophy following a 28-27 victory over West Park St Helens in the 1st round.
This match is Fylde’s fourth in a row away from home in the National Trophy but they did at least visit Old Northamptonians in the last round and win 74-10. Fylde are currently in 8th spot in National 3 North.
The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

ROUND 2 SOUTH
Barnes v Rosslyn Park
Barnes are in 3rd place in London One and beat Chingford 48-25 to reach round 2 of the EDF Energy National Trophy. Barnes have not knocked out a team from a higher league in any national cup competition since they lowered the colours of Harpenden in the 2nd round of the Intermediate Cup in October 2001.
Rosslyn Park occupy 9th spot in National 3 South and beat level 6 Swanage & Wareham 41-9 in the first round. Park have lost just once to a team from a lower league in 18 previous ties: 11-23 at Darlington Mowden Park in the 4th round of the senior cup on 2 January 2000.
The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

Havant v Clifton
Havant and Clifton, close rivals in National 3 South, have been drawn together with the two teams currently in 10th and 9th places respectively in the league. The two teams have already met in the league this season with Clifton running out 23-12 victors at home on 1 September.
To reach the 2nd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy Havant toppled Chippenham 27-10 and Clifton knocked out Woodford 46-19.
This is their first clash in the cup but the two have faced each other on 13 previous occasions in league play over the years with Clifton having the slight edge with seven wins to six. Clifton however have not won at Havant since a 6-0 triumph in National 2 South on 2 January 1999.

London Scottish v Peterborough
London Scottish, who have gained five promotions in seven seasons since their readmittance to the leagues, currently lie in 4th place in National 3 South. The Exiles have not been knocked out of a national cup competition by a team from a lower league since they were in division 2 in season 1993/94 and entertained 3rd division Fylde only to go down by 6 points to eight. Scottish beat Ipswich 66-5 in the last round. Peterborough are the only Midlands Division representative left in this season’s EDF Energy National Trophy, and are in 8th spot in Midlands One. ‘Borough beat Solihull 34-3 away from home in the 1st round.

Lydney v Canterbury
Another all National 3 South tie sees 8th placed Lydney take on 3rd placed Canterbury in a repeat of the league fixture at Regentsholm on 3 November which Canterbury won 36-20.
Lydney travelled to Thanet Wanderers in the 1st round of the EDF Energy Cup and won 32-20, whilst Canterbury disposed of fellow National 3 South rivals Cinderford 24-19 on the same day.
Lydney’s only previous win over Canterbury in their three league meetings was 44-25 at Lydney on 30 September 2006.

Maidstone v Paignton
This tie unusually brings together two teams who both lost in the first round only to be reinstated following irregularities by their opponents. Maidstone are 4th placed in London 2 South and tripped up 13-17 at North Walsham.
Paignton have now become only the second level seven side to have reached the 2nd round of the National Trophy following Wheatley Hills in 2005/06, despite an 18-29 home defeat to Oxford Harlequins in round 1 of the EDF Energy National Trophy. Paignton are currently in 2nd place in the Western Counties West league.

Mounts Bay v Hertford
This tie brings together two previous winners of the Intermediate Cup - Mounts Bay, who won the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup at Twickenham last season, and Hertford who took the same trophy in 2002/03.
Mounts Bay have climbed up six levels in the leagues in the seven years since they were formed and have lost just 15 of their 144 league matches so far. This season they have a perfect played 10, won 10 record in National 3 South and beat fellow league rivals Barking 55-19 to reach this stage.
Hertford made the trip over to Gordon League in the 1st round, winning 34-6, and currently occupy 6th spot in London One.

Old Patesians v Maidenhead
Old Patesians won the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham in 2000/01, and face fellow South West 1 adversaries Maidenhead in this tie. The two sides presently occupy 4th and 9th places respectively in the league table and have not been drawn together before in a national cup competition. They are yet to meet in South West One this season but have clashed six times before in that league between 1998-2001 with Maidenhead having the edge by four wins to two.
Old Patesians knocked out Bridgwater & Albion 16-7 in the 1st round, whilst Maidenhead beat Marlow 43-5 at the same stage.

Richmond v Dings Crusaders
Richmond are the most experienced cup side left in the 2nd round of the EDF Energy National Trophy, this being their 92nd tie in all national cup competitions, with their record so far being 57 wins, 3 draws and 31 losses. Richmond have a perfect played nine, won nine record at the top of London One and beat London Nigerian 101-0 in the 1st round of the EDF Energy National Trophy.
Dings Crusaders are in 5th place in National 3 South and beat Torquay Athletic 21-5 to reach this stage.
The two sides have met just once before in league or cup : on 18 November 2006 at the same stage in this competition with Dings running out 24-6 winners at Shaftesbury Crusade in Bristol.

St Ives v Ealing Trailfinders
St Ives, who are struggling at the foot of the South West One table, beat Bristol Harlequins 26-15 in the first round.
Ealing Trailfinders are in 6th place in National 3 South and have reached the 2nd round of the EDF Energy National trophy courtesy of a walk-over from Andover in round one.
The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

Worthing v Weston-super-Mare
Worthing beat fellow London One outfit Civil Service 18-11 in round 1 of the EDF Energy National Trophy, and are currently in 2nd spot in the league table.
Weston-super-Mare overcame National League opposition in the 1st round, accounting for Luton 23-7; the first time that Weston had ever knocked out a team from a higher league in over 30 years of participation in national cup competitions. Weston lie in 3rd place in South West One.
The two sides have never met before in league or cup.

LAST YEAR’S EDF ENERGY TROPHY FINAL
15 APRIL 2007
CORNISH PIRATES (3) 19, EXETER CHIEFS (3) 16 (Twickenham)

Cornish Pirates: Adryan Winnan; Rhodri McAtee (Lewis Vinnecombe 50), Duncan Roke, Duncan Bell, Jonny Hylton; Alberto Di Bernardo(1C, 4PG), Gavin Cattle (capt); Alan Paver, Viliami Ma'asi(1T) (Nick Makin 76), Sam Heard (Dan Seal 50); Heino Senekal (James Inglis 77), Joe Beardshaw; Stan McKeen, Iva Motusaga, Tim Cowley (Chris Cracknell 73).
Bench: Lewis Vinnecombe, Dan Seal, Chris Cracknell, James Inglis, Nick Makin, James Moore, Steve Winn.

Exeter Chiefs: Gary Kingdom(1T); Jason Luff, Mark Fatialofa, Alifatu Junior Fatialofa, Alistair Murdoch; Tony Yapp(1C, 3PG), Kevin Barrett; Richard Liddington, Sam Blythe, Joe Horn-Smith; Ian Brown, James Hanks (Chad Slade 73); Tony Walker, Gary Willis (Alan Miller 68), Richard Baxter (capt).
Bench: Alan Miller, Chad Slade, Ian Wilson, Adam Staniforth, Wade Kelly, Simon Jenkins, Stephen Bennett.

Referee: Dale Newitt (England).